PWC VOICE ORGANIZATION IS NOW FUNDED
VOICE CELEBRATES FIRST-EVER PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ORGANIZATION IS NOW FUNDED Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) celebrates the historic creation of Prince William County’s (PWC) first-ever Public Defender office, which will lead to more equitable treatment for the poorest residents. Prince William is the only Virginia county that is a majority people of color. Having survived the state budget freeze resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the office is now funded and law. During 2019 PWC teams of VOICE citizen-leaders personally interviewed hundreds of people concerning their experiences with court appointed attorneys to better understand the kinds of reforms that are most needed. VOICE repeatedly heard that the poor quality of representation for low-income people in the courts was a major driver of inequality in PWC’s justice system. As the second-largest jurisdiction in Virginia, PWC is the l...